Tips to set up a great home theater room

StatePoint>> These days, home theaters are particularly popular rooms in many houses, and are even viewed as selling points. In fact, this trend has become so popular that eight in ten builders now offer home theater pre-wire, according to a study from the Consumer Electronics Association.

By following some tricks of the trade, you can add excitement to your living room or create a superior home theater space.

Immersive Visuals

To capture the stunning visuals you see in the theater, consider a projector that can create a more immersive experience for gaming, movies, concerts, and sports. Be sure to select one with a fully connectable interface, including three types of video and audio inputs, as well as HDMI, RGB and RS-232C terminals.A projector lets you replace an ordinary TV with a larger screen, and if you choose a light one, it can even be moved around from room to room. For example, weighing in at just five pounds, Casio's SLIM projectors are thin and compact, require little setup time and provide maximum brightness in as few as five seconds to put you into the action in no time. The SLIM series of LampFree projectors offers an estimated 20,000-hour lifespan with minimal brightness degradation and continuous operation, outshining conventional projectors requiring mercury lamp replacements. More information is available at www.CasioProjector.com.

And experts also stress that projectors can be economical, as the cost per image area is less than with traditional televisions.

Powerful Sound

You want powerful sound that can move you, but not so loud it moves your home's foundation.

Most experts agree surround sound is best. You will need at least four speakers and a subwoofer. And don't just place speakers on either side of your screen. Create an equilateral triangle, with the right and left front speakers as two points and your primary seat as the third point. Meaning, if you are seated seven feet away from the screen, your speakers should be seven feet apart from each other and angled toward you. Place them at the same height as ear level.

Easy Comfort

Seating is just as important as incredible visuals and powerful sound to create the perfect home theater atmosphere.

Think of seats as primary and secondary. Primary seating is for family or friends who use the space regularly. Secondary seating is used when you have that huge party for the big game, a new movie or an awards show.

Some prefer dramatic theater-style seating with classic flip-up chairs and built-in cup holders. Others like recliners or sofas on which they can lean. Just make sure every seat has an unobstructed view and no seat is too close to speakers.

Above all, when the remodeling is done, remember to take time to enjoy your set-up!